Concrete ties

ABSTRACT

A CONCRETE TIE IS PROVIDED WITH PROTUBERANCES ON OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF SERVING TO ANCHOR A PAIR OF ONE-PIECE SPRING-TYPE RAIL FASTENERS. EACH FASTERNER HAS A BIGHT TENSIONED ON THE PROTUBERANVE, AND A PAIR OF LEGS EXTEND UPWARD FROM THE BIGHT. THE UPPER ENDS OF THE LEGS ARE BENT TO AFFORD EXTENSIONS WHICH OVERLIE THE BASE OF THE RAIL, AND BENDS THEREIN ENGAGE THE BASE OF THE RAIL WITH A SPRING FORCE. THE FREE ENDS OF THE FASTENERS END IN HOOKS, ONE HOOK BEING THE COMPLEMENT OF THE OTHER SO THAT A PAIR OF SUCH FASTENERS MAY BE COMPLEMENTALLY JOINTED AT THE FREE ENDS AND TENSIONED ONE ON THE OTHER. THE PROTUBERANCES OF THE TIE ARE UNDER A GREAT DEAL OF COMPRESSION AND ARE REINFORCED BY BENDS IN A PLURALITY OF ROD-LIKE STRINGERS EMBEDDED IN THE TIE TO EXTEND BETWEEN THE PROTUBERANCES.

y 3, 1972 R. .1. NOVOTNY 3,664,584

CONCRETE TIES Filed Feb. 9, 1970 4 Sheets-Sheet z INVENTOR RAYMOUD J.NOVOTNY BY/MWZM W ATTORNEYS y 1972 R. J. NOVOTNY 3,664,584

CONCRETE TIES Filed Feb. 9 1970 4 Sheets-Sheet i F166 A F168 INVENTORRAYM OND J. NOVOTNY il w, W1

ATTORNEYS May 23, 1972 R. J. NOVOTNY CONCRETE TIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed Feb. 9 1970 FIGIO INVENTOR RAYMOND J. NOVOTNY BY I:

ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 238-349 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A concrete tie is provided with protuberances on oppositesides thereof serving to anchor a pair of one-piece spring-type railfasteners. Each fastener has a bight tensioned on the protuberance, anda pair of legs extend upward from the bight. The upper ends of the legsare bent to afford extensions which overlie the base of the rail, andbends therein engage the base of the rail with a spring force. The freeends of the fasteners end in hooks, one hook being the complement of theother so that a pair of such fasteners may be complementally jointed atthe free ends and tensioned one on the other.

The protuberances of the tie are under a great deal of compression andare reinforced by bends in a plurality of rod-like stringers embedded inthe tie to extend between the protuberances.

This invention relates to a reinforced concrete tie and a spring-likefastener to be tensioned on the tie for holding the rail to the tie witha spring force.

The advent of concrete ties in the railroad industry has prevailed forsome time, and there have been constant efforts concerned withdeveloping specialized rail fasteners in that the conventional spike, sofamiliar in the instance of wooden ties, cannot possibly be usedanchoring a rail to a concrete tie. It is of course highly desirable toavoid a rail fastener for a concrete tie which involves drilling a tieor otherwise forming an opening therein in which the fastener is to beanchored. Not only does such alteration of the tie involve a great dealof equipment and labor, it also may cause localized weakening of thetie. Collectively, the various proposals for physically embedding oranchoring a fastener part within a tie may be viewed as involving ascrew or stud which itself may present the rail fastener or which isused to secure in place a separate member presenting the rail fastener.

It is the primary object of the present invention to develop a fastenerwhich in no way requires a physical alteration of a concrete tieincidental to anchoring a fastener to the tie, and more specifically theprimary object of the present invention is to develop a rail fastenercapable of being tensioned on the tie incidental to being operativelymated to a fastener of like form also tensioned on the tie, the twofasteners in their tensioned state presenting parts bearing with greatspring force on the base of the rail.

As another statement of the invention, it is an object thereof to hold arail to a concrete tie by means of two fasteners .of spring form havinga pair of free ends in complemental hook engagement, statically loadingthe rail with a spring force produced by tensioning the fasteners onprotuberances cast integral with the tie.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims 3,664,584 Patented May 23, 1972"ice and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way ofillustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention andthe principle thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode inwhich I have contemplated applying that principle. Other embodiments ofthe invention embodying the same or equivalent principle may be used andstructural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an end elevation showing two fasteners, constructed inaccordance with the present invention, securing a rail to a tie, andtaken on line 1--1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is atop plan view on the line 33 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 4 is an elevation on line 44 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a fastener constructed in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top elevation on line 6-6 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 7 is an elevation on line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an end elevation on line 8-8 of FIG. 7; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views showing stages of assembling thefasteners to hold a rail in place.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a railroad tie 10 of concrete supports atrafiic rail 11, the tie having a recess 10R therein in which isdisposed a resilient tie pad 12 on which the base 13 of the rail sets.The tie pad may be of any preferred, essentially elastomericcomposition, but is advantageously provided with depending or downwardlydirected end lips 14 which overlap marginal portions of the outer facesof the concrete tie at the end limits of the recess 10R, whereby endwisemovement of the tie pad is limited.

The tie pad itself is provided with an upwardly opening recess 12Rcharacterized by a pair of longitudinal side lips 16 which neatlyembrace the edges of the rail base. Accordingly, the recess 10R in thetie may be of some standard dimension, and in the event that the railwayis characterized by rails having bases with unusual width, it is onlynecessary to vary the thickness of tie pad lips 16 to neatly fit thebase of the rail.

It may be noted additionally that the concrete tie is reinforced withrods R of the usual kind, and as will be explained in more detail'below, a reinforcing grill 20 of unusual construction is also provided.1

In accordance with the present invention, the rail is secured to the tieby a pair of one-piece fasteners or clips 25, each of identicalconstruction, having free ends in complemental hooked engagement withone another as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and in accomplishing this, thefasteners are preferably of silico-manganese spring steel,

tensioned on protuberances 26 projecting outwardly from the front andrear faces of the tie, the protuberances 26 being molded integrally withthe tie.

Each such fastener 25 embodies several different bends which are bestdefined by visualizing the fastener as disposed substantially in anupright position as shown in FIG. 5, and in terms of a plane PL, FIGS. 1and 5, which includes the vertical axis VA of the fastener, FIG. 4.Referring for the moment to FIG. 4, each fastener includes a pair oflegs 30 equally divergent from the axis VA and joined at their lowerends by a bend or bight 31 having a profile complemental to theunderside of the protuberances 26. In this instance, the underside ofthe protuberance 26 is convex, such that the bight 31 is curved upward-1y uniformly on each side of its bisector point NP, with the legsupwardly divergent therefrom, substantially of V-shape. All bends andcurves in the fastener may be defined in terms of progressive movementupward and outward from the bisector point NP along the axes of the legs30.

In the installed state the bight 31 of the fastener, FIG. 2, embracesthe corresponding convex curve 26-1 at the underside of the relatedprotuberance 26, and the legs 30 have the inner surfaces thereof inengagement with upwardly divergent side surface 26-1 of each related tieprotuberance.

In the installed or operative state, the two legs 30 and the bight 3-1which joins the legs lie in the plane PL, and this is equaly true of thefastener or clip in its free state, FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 4, each ofthe legs 30 at the upper end thereof terminates in an intermediate bight32 which commences well outboard of the base of the rail.

Each intermediate bight 32, progressively, bends inward toward the axisVA at 32A, FIG. 4, for about 90 of bend and then, at 32B, FIGS. 1 and 3,extends both downwardly and rearwardly out of the plane PL for aboutanother 90 of bend. The rear extension of each bight 32 merges into aterminal bight 34 and 35, respectively. The terminal bights 34 and 35extend generally along axes parallel to the rail, overlying respectivesides of the rail base, FIG. 2, and as shown in FIG. 1 the low part ofeach bight 34 and 35 is adapted to engage the upper face of the railbase.

Each of the terminal bights 34 and 35 has a hook at the free endthereof, but the hooks are of slightly different configuration so thatone will fit or clasp the other in a complemental fashion. Thus, andreferring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the free end of the bight 34 ischaracterized by an inwardly bent arcuate hook 37, bent inward towardthe axis VA, whereas the free end of the bight 35 is characterized by anupwardly bent arcuate hook 38. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the hooks haveconcave faces which nest in one another.

In associating the fasteners 25, and referring to FIG. 9, it shouldfirst be noted that the construction is such that one of the legs 30 ofthe fastener in its free state, say the near leg 30, FIG. 9, may be heldin the hand,'and the far leg moved under the protuberance 26 to presentthe intermediate bight associated with the far leg to the base of therail on the far side, just as the intermediate bight 35, FIG. 9, is inengagement with the base of the rail on the near side.

This operation is repeated with the second fastener, FIG. 10,interlocking the hooked ends, except that the second fastener has itsbight 31 displaced outward of the related tie protuberance 26. Thus, atthis stage of installation, the left-hand fastener 25, FIG. 10, may beviewed as disposed in its ultimate operative position, anchored in itsprotuberance 26, whereupon a sturdy prise or crowbar or similarlyeffective tool is interposed between the bight of the right-hand loosefastener and the underside of the tie protuberance 26. Leverage is thenapplied to gradually move the loose or free bight 31 into lockedengagement with the underside of its protuberance 26, thereby anchoringthe second fastener. A force of 800 to 1000 pounds is required to effectthe lock, and in the course of final motion, anchoring both fasteners,the two fasteners are under such great tension as to cause the hookedends to be distorted from their free state, FIGS. 4 and 5, substantiallyinto a true horizontal position (hook 37 and vertical position (hook 38)shown in FIG. 2.

Thus, in the free state, hook 37 is inclined downwardly at a slightangle of about 10 toward axis VA and hook 38 converges toward axis VA atan angle ofv about 4. However, in the installed state, each hook 38 isdisplaced from its free state plane PL-3 to be substantially vertical,and the other hook 37 is displaced from its free state plane PL-2 to besubstantially horizontal. Resultantly, the rail is held to the tie byspring tension, the spring force being the two fasteners, and sufilcientstressing of the tie pro tuberance is involved as to prompt an unusualway of reinforcing the protuberances, and the main body of the tietherebetween as Well, as will now be explained.

The reinforce 20, FIGS. 1 and 6, is in the form of a grid or grill ofrod form and is defined by a plurality of string ers 50 joined by crossribs 51 as by welding the cross ribs to the stringers 50. Thereinforcing grid is of symmetrical form at its ends, somewhatcomplemental to the protuberance 26, and in keeping with this conceptthe stringers include end stringers 50-1, FIG. 7, intermediate stringers50-2, and medial stringers 50.3. The stringers are bent in an unusualway as will be described in detail, such that in their undeveloped orunbent form the cross ribs 51 are displaced considerably from the freeends of the stringers. Thus, each stringer has a downward bend 52therein, FIG. 7, and a rearward bend 53 as well, such that the stringershave terminal extensions 54 lying beneath an extending parallel to theportions of the stringers 50 lying between the cross ribs 51. Suchmultiple bending of the end portions of the stringers outward of theribs 51 results in each stringer having a downwardly extending legrespectively identified as 52-1, 52-2, and 52-3, FIG. 6, noting that thevertical legs thus presented are of progressively longer lengthproceeding inward from the end stringer 50-1 to the medial stringer50-3. In like fashion the terminal extensions 54 are of progressivelyshorter length, 54-1, 54-2 and 54-3.

The free end of each stringer is bent downwardly at 55 to afford a hook,and as shown in FIG. 1 selected ones of the hooks 55 may be associatedin hooked engagement with the reinforcing rods R which extend at rightangles to the stringers 50.

As already noted, the portions of the stringers outward of thecross-bars or ribs 51 present something of the cornplement of each tieprotuberance 26 to be reinforced thereby, so that the longest legs ofthe stringers, 52-3, FIG. 2, occupy the thickest part of theprotuberance, and the bends in the stringers, 52 and 53, are within theprotuberance.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention, it is to be understood that variations and modifications maybe nonetheless made without departing from the principle of theinvention.

I claim:

1. A rail fastener having two free ends to be associated in hookedengagement with the free ends of another fastener of like constructionfor holding a rail to a tie, being of one-piece spring metal andincluding, when positioned substantially upright: a pair of legs joinedby a bight substantially in V-shape, said bight and legs being adaptedto embrace a protuberance on one side of the tie, said legs and saidbight lying substantially in a common plane and the legs divergingupwardly at sub stantially equal angles measured from a longitudinalaxis lying in said plane and extended from the bisector point of thebight, each leg having an upper end to be outboard of the base of therail on the tie and joined to an intermediate bight which,progressively, bends inward toward said axis then downward and rearwardout of said plane to overlie the base of the rail, the rearwardextension of each intermediate bight merging into a terminal bighthaving a low part engageable with the upper face of the base of therail, and each terminal bight terminating in an upper bend presenting afree end of hook form.

2. A fastener according to claim 1 in which one of the hooks ischaracterized by an upright leg and in which the other hook isarcuateand substantially horizontal.

3. A rail fastener having two free ends to be associated in hookedengagement with the free ends of another fastener of like constructionfor holding a rail to a tie, being of one-piece spring metal andincluding, when positioned substantially upright: a pair of legs joinedat their lower ends by a bight substantially in V-shape, said bight andlegs being adapted to embrace in tension a pro- References Citedtuberance on one side of the tie, each leg having an up- UNITED STATESPATENTS per end to be outboard of the base of the rail on the tie1,440,062 12/ 1922 Costello 238-324 and joined to an intermediate bightwhich bends inward 5 3,055,914 11/1962 Rigby 238349 to overlie the baseof the rail, each intermediate bight FOREIGN PATENTS merging into aterminal bight having a low part engage- 86,039 8/1965 Norway 1,130,4615/ 1962 Germany 238-349 able with the upper face of the base of therail, and each terminal bight terminating in a free end of hook form, 10ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner said hooks being of complementalshape so that the hooks R, A, BERTSCH, Assistant Examiner of onefastener nest freely 1n the hooks of the other fas- Us. CL XR.

tener- 23 s 29, 91, 314

